Report tells North Syracuse mayor and police chief to apologize

Seven weeks ago, the mayor and the police chief of North Syracuse got in a screaming match over a bug extermination bill. On Wednesday, a village trustee recommended that the two men apologize to the village workers that witnessed the dispute and get personal anger management or conflict resolution training, according to Syracuse.com.

Police Chief Thomas Connelly walked off the job on Sept. 29 after the argument with Mayor John Heindorf but has since returned to work.

Trustee Mark Atkinson, author of the report, is the village’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program coordinator. He also happens to be the mayor’s brother-in-law. 

“There’s a section of my family who can’t stand me; they think I’m going after the mayor,” Atkinson said. “There’s a section of the community that can’t stand me because they think I’m sticking up for the mayor.”

Whether Heindorf and Connelly will heed Atkinson’s advice is their personal choice. However, Atkinson said that he is willing to do what would be needed to remove them from their positions if they don’t apologize, according to Syracuse.com.

My Take: This is my top story because of the proximity and because of the multi-layered drama within the story: a mayor and a police chief fight, a village trustee tells them to apologize and get personal help, and the trustee turns out to be the mayor’s brother –in-law. This story is unusual and timely.

Police officer who ended Fort Hood shooting rampage speaks out

The police officer praised for ending the Fort Hood shooting last week was washing her patrol car when she heard the report about the shots fired at the Army post, she told Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday. Authorities agree that Sgt. Kimberly Munley disabled the gunman, according to CNN.com.

Munley also told Winfrey that she is “doing well.”

"The entire incident was very confusing and chaotic," Munley said.

Munley suffered three gunshot wounds, in the both of her thighs and in her knuckle, according to CNN.com. She remains in good condition at Metroplex Adventist Hospital.

“When I got shot, it felt like a muscle being torn out of my leg," Munley told Winfrey. 

Munley’s first words after being injured were “did anybody die?,” according to Dr. Kelly Matlock.

Munley is a 34-year-old mother of two.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, alleged shooter, is in stable condition, according to CNN.com.

My Take: I believe this story is significant although Munley’s role in Fort Hood has already been covered in the news because her personal story gives background and inside information about the day of the tragedy that readers want to know.

Germany goalkeeper commits suicide

The goalkeeper of Germany’s national soccer team stepped in front of a train on Tuesday. The widow of Robert Enke spoke during a news conference Wednesday. Enke battled depression for years, she said.

Hundreds of people in Hannover, Germany filed into his funeral at a Lutheran church and then silently marched to the local club’s soccer stadium on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

He and his wife Teresa adopted a daughter six months ago.

My Take: This story caught my attention because of its tragic nature. Germany is a soccer-obsessed nation, and this has already led to and will lead to more suicide prevention programs and events throughout the country.